2nd October, 2021
A Nigerian identified as Abu Henry a.k.a Kevin has been sentenced to 10-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) by a court in Mohali in India.
Henry was sentenced on Friday, the fifth Nigerian to be sentenced by the same court, this year for heroin smuggling.
Judge Harpeet Kaur Kaleka also imposed a fine of 100,000 rupees on Henry.
His local accomplice, Narinder Singh, a native of Patiala and currently living in Sector 76, Mohali, was awarded seven-year RI and a fine of Rupees 70,000.
If the fine is not paid, both will have to undergo another one-year imprisonment.
According to Hindustan Times, the Nigerian and his Indian accomplice were convicted under Sections 21, 61, 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.
According to police, the duo were caught with the heroin and drug money by the special task force (STF) near Phase 4, Mohali, while they were travelling in a Toyota Fortuner SUV.
The arrest was made in 2017.
Abu Henry, who did his BSc in Nigeria, had landed in India in 2009 on a business visa.
“First, he dealt in readymade garments. He came into the drug business in 2014. We are yet to procure his passport and other details about him,” said the SP, in a report by Tribune India.
On Wednesday Judge Kaleka also jailed a Nigerian woman, Mariam Wanoe to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for smuggling heroin.
The judge also slammed a 100,000 rupees fine on her.
Wanoe was the fourth Nigerian given a 10-year sentence this year by the court.
Wanoe was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in May 2018 near the old barrier in Phase 1.
STF had recovered 280 gram of heroin from her.
The Nigerian who lived at Krishna Puri in New Delhi, was on her way to Mohali to supply the drugs to her customers.
She confessed that she came to India on a medical visa in 2016, but never returned to Nigeria
Later she started working at a salon in Delhi and then became a drug runner to earn extra money.
Also sentenced by the court to 10 year jail term were Joel Smith, Austin Krairi and Nigerian woman Joye Cheeka Ozuma.
Ozuma was sentenced on 9 September.
Smith, who lived in Tilak Nagar, New Delhi was sentenced 18 September.
According to the Hindu Times of India, Mohali Special Task Force arrested the Nigerian national after being caught with 270-gram heroin which was recovered from him.
The court also ruled that he should pay a fine of ₹1 lakh ($1,348) and in default would have to further undergo one year imprisonment.
During preliminary interrogation, Smith confessed that he came in India on the tourist visa in 2014 and never returned to his country.
He was convicted under Sections 21, 61, 85 of NDPS Act and Section 14 of Foreign Act by the local court.